United  States  Department  of  Agriculture, 

B  U  R  K  A  U     OK     PLANT     INDUSTRY, 
tern  Irrigation  Agriculture, 

WASHINGTON     I>.   C. 


THE  WORK  OF  THE  YUMA  RECLAMATION  PROJECT 
EXPERIMENT  FARM  IN  1913. 

Bj  R    E    Blair,  Farm  Superintendent 


intkoim  (  iion. 

The  Colorado  River  Valley  lands  included  in  the  Yuma  Reclamation 
Project  lit1  in  a  region  of  such  unusual  climatic  conditions  that  their 
future  development  depends  largely  on  the  culture  <>f  specialized 
crops.    The  conditions  are  particularly  favorable  to  such  crops  as 

COtton,    alfalfa,    alfalfa    -eed.    6g8,    date-,   BWeet    potatoes,    and    other 

crops  which  require  a  warm  climate  and  which  are  well  suited  to 
intensive  culture.  The  work  of  the  Yuma  Experiment  Farm  i-  con- 
cerned chiefly  with  these  crops. 

M  «t  of  the  experiments  conducted  during  the  seasons  of  191 1  and 

1912  have  been  continued,  and  several  other-  were  inaugurated  in 

\  ariety  tests  of  fruits  have  been  conducted,  various  strains 
and  varieties  of  field  crops  and  vegetables  have  been  tested,  and 
different  cultural  methods  for  the  various  crops  have  been  tried. 
The  arrangement  of  the  fields  and  the  location  of  the  experiments  in 

1913  are  shown  in  figure  1.  The  chief  feature-  of  the  progress  made 
in  1913  are  reported  in  this  paper. 

"  OOPERATTVE  WORK. 

Other  offices  of  tin-  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry  have  cooperated  iri 
carrying  on  certain  of  the  experiments.  The  Office  of  Acclimatiza- 
tion and  Adaptation  of  Crop  Plant-  cooperates  in  the  breeding  and 
cultural  experiments  with  cotton  and  in  the  work  of  acclimatizing 

•  The  Yuma  Experiment  Firm  la  tatted  on  'he  Tama  Beetematfao  Project,  7  miles  north  of  Yuma. 

1  of  which  :  The  land  was 

mem  of  the  I  >  experiment 

\  hrmhooH 

■ 

m      The  firm  h  under  the  db  !etaile.| 

from  t!i  i   Astrirultiire,  Diaeni  of  I'l  r  '  imishra 

the  fun<U  ne.  lintain  the  farm.  — 

50806       I  t         1 


_i_ 


•EPOSITORY 


2 

and  breeding  Palestine  wheat.  The  Office  of  Crop  Physiology  and 
Breeding  Investigations  cooperates  in  variety  and  breeding  tests  of 
figs,  dates,  and  pistache  nuts.  The  Office  of  Foreign  Seed  and  Plant 
Introduction  does  cooperative  work  in  connection  with  various  fruit 
varieties,  nursery  stock,  and  ornamentals.  The  Office  of  Alkali  and 
Drought  Resistant  Plant  Investigations  cooperates  in  variety  tests  of 


Fig.  1.— Diagram  ofthe  Yuma  Experiment  Farm,  showing  the  arrangement  of  the  fields  and  the  loca- 
tion of  the  experiments  in  1913. 

pomegranates,  and  the  meteorological  observations  are  made  in  co- 
operation with  the  Biophysical  Laboratory.  Some  cooperation  is  had 
with  several  other  offices  of  the  Bureau  of  Plant  Industry  in  minor 
lines  of  work. 

FARM  BUILDINGS  AND  IMPROVEMENTS. 

On  the  north  line  of  the  experiment  farm  160  rods  of  fence  were 
constructed  during  the  year.  In  cooperation  with  the  neighboring 
ranchers  adjoining  on  the  north,  a  40-foot  road  was  leveled  and  put 


iii  shape  for  irrigating.  Through  cooperation  with  the  Reclamation 
Service  a  test  of  the  action  of  alkali  on  various  concrete  mixtures  for 
various  periods  of  time  \\a>  inaugurated  l>>  placing  .-i  '<<">  fool  lateral 
of  concrete  draintile  beneath  a  strongl}  alkaline  *  i  *  *  1  <  I .  This  tesl  will 
extend  over  a  period  of  10  years.  A  tesl  meter  for  accurately  measur- 
ing the  Mow  uf  water  in  an  open  ditch  has  been  installed  on  one  of 
the  farm  laterals  for  the  purpose  of  making  various  water  measure 

ments. 

(  dm. ii  i<>\^  ON    I  Hi.  PBOJ1  I  i 

l   I  IM  \ll<     I  OSDIIIONS. 

ither  conditions  during  the  year  1913  were  generally  favorable 
to  crop  growth.  No  severe  Btorms  of  anj  nature  occurred.  Some 
damage  resulted  from  wind  and  Band  storms,  which  in  March  cui  off 
young  alfalfa  plants  in  earl}  spring  plantings  on  loose  soils.  The 
growing  season  opened  rather  late,  and  cold  nights  through  April  and 
early  May  retarded  tin*  growth  of  the  cotton  to  some  extent. 

Table  1  briefly  summarizes  the  climatologies]  observations  recorded 
:it  the  experiment  farm  during  1913,  together  with  the  weather 
conditions  recorded  in  the  1-year  period  during  which  observations 
lew  e  been  made. 

Tabli  1      Summary  of  climatological  observation  }Tuma  Experiment  Farm,  1910 

li>  1913,  inclvu 

I'KKi  int\th>\  •  IM  in 


lll'Ill. 

Apr 

June 

July. 

' 

Dec 

for  1  yean. 
For  191 ; 

a  17 

0.36 

■1    is 

.19 

0.19 
.00 

0.13 
.00 

.09 

n  li 
.00 

0.28 
.00 

0.29 
.37 

1.92 

.Ml''-.       1n> 


1 

For  1"1 1 

4.29 

i.:i 

.,  „i 

8  n 

:.  D 

HI   16    in  7 
9.05 

HI 
9.13 

9.7 
:  87 

i  U9 

7    "i 

i.   11 

4.10 
3.03 

Iuii.y  Him.  '  Miiis  in:  BOVB 


9.0 
v  1 
6.9 
6.3 

2.3 
1   - 
1    I 
.9 

t  l 
3.3 
3.3 
2.4 

1    1 
7.0 

11 

1.  1 
1.0 

1.1 

- 
.'    ' 
3.6 
.'  1 

7   1 
6.0 

7..1 

l.:. 

i   ; 
i  5 

- 

2.3 

-'  1 

7   J 

4.4 

2.0 
0 

1    .' 

3.4 
2.0 

1.1 

17 
5.6 

1  1 
1.1 

S 

2.4 
1.7 
-   1 
2.0 

9.2 

8  7 

- 
1  J 

3.7 

l  B 

6.3 

in  7 
11    1 

1.7 

1  n 

.1 
3.3 

2.9 

1  ■> 

9.9 

1.8 

1  ii 

I  ii 
J  I 

(911 

11   7 

7    I 

9.3 
9.6 

9.3 

1UJ 

1910 

I'll 

1    7 

1.1 

1    i 

1.  t 
1.3 

1.8 

1.7 

l.D 

1912 

1910 

1"11    . 

1.0 

3.9 

1   1 

• 

• 

!    1 

i  03 

1913... 

•  Records  of  precipitation  duo  from  July  1.  1  110. 
'  UoconN  of  evaporation  date  from  Apr.  21,  1910 
»  Records  of  wind  velocity  date  from  Slav 


Table  1.     Summary  of  climatological  observation*  at  tht    Yuma   Experiment  Farm. 
1910  to  191.},  inclusive — Continued. 


Monthly  Temperature  ("F.j. 


Horn. 


Absolute  maximum: 
4  years,  1910  to 

1913 

For  1913 

Absolute  minimum: 
4  years.  1910  to 

1913 

For  1913 

Mean: 

4  years,  1910  to 

1913 

For  1913 


Jan. 


52.5 

47.9 


Feb. 


81 


54.6 
54.6 


Mar. 


37.5 
30 


60.4 
57.1 


Apr. 


106.5 


68.2 
66 


May. 


120 
101 


73.7 
74 


June.  July. 


117 
108 


50 


78.1 


tit; 
IIS 


87.6 
86.3 


Aug. 

Sept. 

Oct. 

Nov. 

Dec. 

113 
109 

116 
113 

107 
96 

94 
90 

81 
75 

57 
57 

48 
48 

36 
36 

28 

37 

10 
24 

88.5 
89.1 

82.5 
83.3 

69.9 
69 

60.6 
62.3 

51.2 
51.7 

Year. 


120 
llfi 


69.2 
78.3 


Killing  Frosts. 


Last  in  spring. 

First  in  autumn. 

Frost- 
free 
period. 

Year. 

Date. 

Minimum 
tempera-      Date. 
ture. 

Minimum 
tempera- 
ture. 

1910 

0  F. 

Nov.  27 
Nov.  24 
Dec.     4 
Dec.     2 

"  F. 
32 
32 
31 
31 

Days. 

1911 

Feb.  24 
Mar.  31 
Mar.  28 

32 
32 
32 

262 

1912 

247 

1913 

248 

1  Records  of  maximum  and  minimum  temperatures  date  from  Apr.  21.  1910. 
CROP  CONDITIONS. 

Compared  with  the  results  of  previous  years,  crop  yields  during  the 
season  of  1913  were  high  for  the  entire  project.  The  Colorado  River 
was  not  excessively  high  at  any  period,  and  the  areas  damaged 
by  seepage  and  a  high  water  table  were  small.  Toward  tbe  close  of 
the  season  these  areas  were  benefited  by  the  construction  of  an  open 
drainage  ditch  by  the  Reclamation  Service. 

In  1913  there  were  616  farms  on  the  project,  with  a  total  irrigable 
area  of  32,732  acres.  An  area  of  19,607  acres  was  actually  irrigated. 
Of  this,  an  area  of  2,881  acres  was  devoted  to  orchards  not  yet  in 
bearing  and  to  other  crops  not  harvested,  so  that  the  area  from  which 
crops  were  harvested  amounted  to  16,726  acres.  Tins  harvested  area 
was  larger  by  5.666  acres  than  in  1912.  Tbe  total  farm  value  of  all 
crops  on  the  project  was  $610,228  in  1913,  as  compared  with  S497,012 
in  1912.  The  average  farm  value  per  acre  in  1913  was  $36.48,  as 
compared  with  $44.94  a  year  ago.  The  acreage,  yields,  and  farm 
values  of  the  crops  grown  on  the  project  in  1913  are  shown  in  Table 
II,  the  figures  being  obtained  from  the  Reclamation  Service. 


/'■ 


i  irm 

llnr 

Crap 

unit 

■ 

.-.7.7111 

22,000 

1,128 

mum 
in 

main, 

AU1H1  h  u 

i 
1,201 

an 

MA 

17 
1,007 

r..lj:i 

3.60 

1 1.  83 
l'i.  72 

119  82 

J7.1.30 

mil    winter 

(  illHT  ll  li 

Pound 

Itllolll'l. 

ll.'.   97 
1,700 

•  i 
i  i 

goo 

100 

.111 

.' 

M(:lll  1 

torn 

Track                    

18.08 

19,010 

.i 

i  ;i.  18 

■ 

Tot  il 

810,238 

I  pat  m  n 

(HOP  EXPERIMENTS. 

GHBBM  M  vm  EU  9 

The  experiment  farm  is  located  on  land  having  a  Boil  which  is  fairly 
representative  of  the  Yuma  project.  The  soil  is  chiefly  m  fine  Bandy 
loam  underlain  directly  by  a  subsoil  of  medium-fine  Band.     ( Originally, 

pari  of  this  land  was  very  rough,  necessitating  cuts  and  lills  in  level- 
ing, which  left  many  fields  with  a  very  nonuniform  surface  soil.  The 
low  -wales  and  washes  which  have  received  the  surface  of  the  nearest 
ridges  produce  luxuriantly,  while  the  higher  places  from  which  the 
surface  soil  has  been  removed  always  produce  a  poor  growth  until 
the  soil  is  built  up  with  manures  and  organic  matter  and  sill  in  the 
irrigation  water.  This  uonuniformity  in  an  experimental  plat  is 
even  more  detrimental  in  effect  than  that  occurring  in  an  ordinary 
field.  It  is  necessary  to  correct  these  soil  variations  within  a  plat  in 
order  that  irrigation  and  culture  may  he  uniformly  applied. 

It  seems  that  even  the  most  sandy  of  these  soils  contains  enough 
silt  and  possesses  a  suflicient  quantity  of  plant  food  to  produce 
growth  when  the  moisture  content  of  the  soil  can  be  maintained. 
The  water-holding  capacity  of  this  soil  can  be  increased  most  econom- 
ically by  the  addition  of"  green  manure.  Alfalfa  is  altogether  the 
best  green-manure  crop  for  this  climate  and  -oil.  It  not  only  adds 
humus  through  stem,  leaf,  and  root  decay,  hut  deep  in  the  Boil  below 
the  cutting  plane  of  the  plow  are  left  many  roots,  and  it  i-  in  this 
subsoil  that  the  addition  of  humus  through  any  other  method  is 
practically  impossible. 


However,  the  production  of  some  green-manure  crop  is  often 
desirable  where  time  docs  not  permit  the  growing  of  an  alfalfa 
crop.  It  has  been  found  at  the  experiment  farm  that  the  Whip- 
poorwill  cow  pea  is  very  desirable  as  a  summer  green-manure  crop. 
A  plat  of  this  crop  planted  in  duly,  1913,  produced  in  80  days,  with 
the  application  of  2. 33  acre-feet  of  water,  3.9  tons  per  acre  of  green 
plant  material  to  be  plowed  into  the  soil.  (See  fig.  2.)  This  was 
the  first  crop  grown  on  fine  sandy  land.  It  is  likely  that  earlier 
planting  would  be  more  desirable.  The  cowpea  will  not  endure 
frost  and  can  not  be  used  for  a  winter  crop. 

A  selection  of  field  peas'  known  as  Golden  Vine  (S.  P.  I.  No. 
30134)  withstood  a  minimum  temperature  of  16°  F.  during  the  win- 
ter of  1912-13  and  promises  to  be  a  valuable  winter-cover  or  green* 
manure  crop. 


Fig.  2. — Plowing  under  a  crop  of  Whippoorwill  cowpeas  as  green  manure  at  the  Yuma  Experiment 
Farm.    This  crop  produced  approximately  3.9  tons  per  acre  of  green  material  in  80  days  in  1913. 


ALFALFA. 


Alfalfa,  which  is  the  staple  crop  of  the  project,  has  generally 
produced  good  yields.  In  some  parts  of  the  project,  however, 
yields  have  fallen  much  below  the  production  of  former  years.  In 
these  districts  it  has  been  observed  that  the  alfalfa  fields  3  or  4 
years  old  produced  the  smallest  yields  of  hay.  On  various  fields 
where  a  study  of  the  soil  was  made  it  appeared  that  neither  the 
presence  of  alkali  nor  the  nearness  of  the  ground-water  plane  was 
responsible  for  this  retarded  growth  of  the  alfalfa  plants.  All  the 
surface  soils  examined  in  this  connection  were  typical  of  the  valley. 
They  were  found  to  range  from  14  to  34  inches  in  depth  and  were 
immediately  underlain  with  a  very  open  sand  subsoil.     The  devel- 

1  The  peas  referred  lo  are  often  designated  as  Canada  field  pea-. 


opmenl  of  the  alfalfa  pool  -\-tem  a1  the  Burface  of  t h«-  subsoil 
gests  1 1 in t  the  subsoil  is  unfavorable  to  the  plants,  as  they  tend  to 
rerool  in  the  surface  soil  instead  of  producing  a  dpep  taproot,  which 
the  alfalfa  plant  develops  under  normal  conditio 

A  record  of  these  failing  fields  indicates  thai  during  the 
ami  second  seasons  of 
grow  ih  good  hay  yields 
were  si  cui  i  <l  I  n  the 
third  and  fourth  seasons 
there  were  ,>  ery  notice- 
able decreases.  This 
behavior  ma}  indicate 
that  the  growth  of  the 
firsl  two  seasons  « !*•- 
pends  chieflj  on  the 
surface  soil  to  depths 
of  l  I  to  3  I  inches,  and 
at  the  cud  of  thai  time, 
as  the  firsl  surface  roots 
have  given  waj  to  the 
deeper  ones,  the  plant  is 
left  with  it-  tanroot  in 
the  open  subsoil,  W  here 
moisture  conditions  are 
not  sufficient!}  favora- 
ble to  Buppoi  t  luxuriant 
growth.  This  sugges- 
tion is  supported  by  the 
root  formation  of  plants 
in  such  soil-.  It  -cents 
thai  the  alfalfa  plants 
tend  to  reestablish  sur- 
face roots  in  the  upper 
-oil  to  replace  the  deeper 
ones,  and  some  plants  are 
found  with  a  well-devel- 
oped surface rool  -\  stem. 
This  condition  is  illus- 
trated by  figures 3  and  l. 

It  -cents  that  alfalfa  culture  in  these  shallow  soils  niu-t  be  given 
special  attention  and  treatment  according  to  the  depth  of  the  stir' 
-oil.  1 1  may  be  necessary  to  plow  under  a  crop  of  alfalfa  c\  ery  second 
or  third  year.  In  following  such  a  method  some  cultivated  crop 
should  intervene  for  one  season  before  reseeding  to  alfalfa.  In  this 
manner    Bermuda    irra>s    or   other    weeds    established    in    the    alfalfa 


t  from  anil 
development.    (Compere  with  lu-uro-t.) 


8 

fields  may  be  eradicated.  Cotton  is  probably  the  best  cultivated 
crop  to  use  for  this  purpose.  The  dense  shade  formed  by  the  cotton 
plants,  together  with  the  cultivation  given  the  crop,  is  very  effective 
in  eradicating  Bermuda  grass.  Furthermore,  cotton  responds  vigor- 
ously to  the  beneficial  effects  which  the  soil  derives  from  the  plow- 
ing under  of  alfalfa. 

Alfalfa  for  seed  is  now  the  most  important  money  crop  of  the 
Yuma  project.  The  season  of  1913  was  very  favorable  to  seed  pro- 
duction. The  average  yields  were  good,  while  some  exceptionally 
high  yields  were  produced.  Row-planting  experiments  at  the  ex- 
periment farm  have  not  yet  given  sufficiently  uniform  results  to 
determine  the  advisability  of  planting  in  this  manner  for  seed  pro- 
duction.    Further  plantings  have  been  made  to  test  this  method  by 


^>       iTTO^I 

^^H 

Jp 

1 

1   - 
H 

H 

1 

Fig.  4. — Alfalfa  plant  from  shallow  surfaee  soil  and  sand  subsoil,  showing  abnormal  root  develop- 
ment.   (Compare  with  figure  3.) 

seeding  rows  from  4  to  28  inches  apart.  Fields  producing  seed  at 
the  experiment  farm  gave  40  per  cent  heavier  yields  when  the  second 
cutting  was  left  for  seed  than  when  the  third  cutting  was  allowed  to 

produce  seed. 

COTTON. 

The  importance  of  long-staple  cotton  production  as  an  agricultural 
industry  on  the  Yuma  project  is  now  generally  recognized.  Various 
cultural  and  breeding  experiments  were  conducted  at  the  experiment 
farm  in  1913  in  cooperation  with  the  Office  of  Acclimatization  and 
Adaptation  of  Crop  Plants.  Both  Egyptian  and  Durango  cotton 
were  under  trial,  and  several  varieties  and  selections  of  Upland  cotton 
were  tested.  With  one  exception,  all  commercial  plantings  of  cotton 
produced  on  the  Yuma  project  were  of  the  Yuma  variety  of  Egyptian 


ootton  The  farmers  had  varying  nieces*,  according  to  the  culture 
and  attention  given  to  the  crop.  Much  cotton  was  planted  too  late 
to  pennil   i  maximum  vield,  while  another  common  mistake   was 

made  in  planting  the  seed  leep  to  secure  umform  genmnation, 

which  consequently  necessitated  replanting. 

Several  significant  observations  were  made  upon  the  production 
of  cotton  from  soil  containing  high  percentages  of  alkah8dte,chiefl3 

Bulphates  an.l  chloride.     Cotton   was  grown   weU   on  certain   fields 

where  other  crops  had   previously    I n   killed  b3    the   presence  o 

excessive  amounts  of  these  salts.     In  ,  case  where  determinations 

were  made  of  the  sail  content  it  was  found  thai  cotton gre*  on  a 
field  containing  more  alkali  in  the  surface  3  feet  of  soil  than  the 
ad;RCOn1  fieldin  which  alfalfa  9eed  had  failed  to  grow. 

Exnerimentg  in  volunteering  cotton  have  been  continued.     A  plal 

of  Egyptian  cotton  was  volunf I  -I gb  the  past   winter  to  a 

Btandof  91  percent.  Different  planting  methods  have  been  practiced 
to  ascertain  the  effect  of  volunteering  for  the  following  season. 

Uduringthe  preceding  year,  the  2-stand  roller  gin  at  the  experi- 
ment farm  was  operated  b3  the  local  farmers  for  ginning  the  1913 
Eevptian  cotton  nop. 

*■  '  (;h\in  soit(.m  m. 

Exoerimente  conducted  with  corn  during  the  seasons  of  1911  and 
,912  and  general  observations  of  results  obtained  by  farmers 
demonstrate  that  this  crop  is  no1  adapted  to  the .climatic  conditions 
of  the  Yuma  project.  To  supply  the  need  of  gram  for  working  stock 
!U1(1  also  a.  a  food  for  poultry,  grain  sorghums  are  known  in  1-  very 
valuable  substitutes  for  corn  in  certain  sections 

Seven  varieties  of  grain  sorghums  were  grown  m  1913  m  a  combmed 

variety    and    time-of-planting    test.     Each    of    these  varieties    wa* 
pjanJdonthesa^edateofeachmonthfromMarchtoJuly.mchisive 

Thl,  highest    yield   obtained   with   each   van,. v.   together  with   the 
pCtlng  date;  which  produced  the  best    results  with  the  different 

varieties  in  L913,  are  shown  in  I  able  III. 

IABUS  iini 


Feterita  i  Sudan  dnn») 

l>\v  »rf  milo 

Red  kafli 

Bro\w\  kaoliang 

50605°— 14 2 


Bushrl*. 

II 
:v 


Apr.  12 
M 

Apr.  12 

me  l* 


Black-hull  kafir 

Shalln 

Dwarf  Mack-hull  kalir. 


Biuhtlt. 

I  me  l" 

\|T.     12 

I 


10 

The  only  variety  in  this  test  excelling  the  commonly  grown  Dwarf 
milo  was  one  known  as  feterita.  As  a  plant  where  forage  or  silage 
is  desired,  the  Red  kalir  seems  to  be  the  best  of  these  seven  varieties. 
It  develops  an  abundance  oi  broad  leaves,  which  remain  green  until 
the  head  is  mature.  Red  kafir  also  withstands  the  extremely  high 
temperatures  better  than  any  other  variety  tried. 

BROOM  CORN. 

A  half-acre  planting  of  broom  corn  was  made  in  1913  to  ascertain 
the  relative  yields  and  behavior  of  the  varieties  commonly  cultivated. 
Three  varieties  were  planted  on  May  8-  The  yields  of  brush  were  m 
follows:  Standard,  0.29  ton  per  acre;  Dwarf,  0.23  ton  per  acre;  and 
Dwarf  Standard,  0.22  ton  per  acre.  Owing  perhaps  to  the  spotted- 
ness  of  the  soil,  the  maturity  of  the  brooms  was  very  irregular  within 
each  variety  and  the  crop  could  not  be  harvested  at  one  cutting. 

HEMP. 

Hemp  was  planted  in  rows  at  varying  distances  apart  and  spaced 
to  varying  distances  within  the  row,  to  determine  the  possibility  of 
and  the  best  cultural  methods  for  producing  hemp  seed.  There  being 
but  one  small  planting  of  seed  hemp  in  the  community,  much  damage 
was  done  by  birds,  and  the  yields  obtained  were  not  dependable. 
Hemp  plants  grown  in  very  close  drill  rows  were  examined  for  liber, 
which  proved  to  be  of  sufficiently  good  quality  to  compare  favorably 
with  the  fiber  of  hemp  produced  in  rainfall  areas. 

SUDAN  GRASS  AND  TUNIS  GRASS. 

Sudan  grass  and  Tunis  grass,  both  recently  introduced  by  the 
United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  were  grown  on  the  experi- 
ment farm  during  the  season  of  1913.  In  both  cases  seeding  was 
made  on  May  14,  which  is  perhaps  about  four  weeks  later  than  these 
crops  should  be  planted.  Tunis  grass  produced  the  best  hay  yields 
when  grown  in  3-foot  rows  and  cultivated.  On  medium  sandy-loam 
soil  4.2  tons  of  hay  per  acre  were  harvested  in  three  cuttings.  Sudan 
grass  produced  larger  yields  when  seeded  broadcast  than  when  seeded 
in  3-foot  rows.  On  light  sandy-loam  soil  S  tons  of  hay  per  acre  were 
harvested  in  three  cuttings.  On  heavier  soils  these  grasses  did  not 
do  so  well. 

WATER  REQUIREMENTS. 

During  the  season  of  1913  approximate  figures  were  obtained  as 
to  the  quantity  of  water  applied  to  the  different  held  crops  at  the 
experiment  farm.  The  method  of  measuring  the  water  was  not 
entirely  satisfactory,  but  it  is  thought  that  the  figures  obtained  are 
approximately  correct.  The  results  of  the  measurements  are  given 
in  Table  IV.  ' 


11 

I  \       Q  and  <"i  n 

at  the  1  I  '  / ' 


\\    ,'. 

Alfilfi 

a  com 

Hemp 

.in 

Ii  will  be  Been  thai  almosl  twice  as  much  water  was  used  by  the 
erope  grown  on  the  light  soil  as  bj  those  grown  on  the  medium  soil. 
These  figures  should  noi  !>r  considered  >is  conclusn  e,  as  il  \\  ill  require 
further  invest  igation  t<>  determine  accurately  the  water  requirements. 

OBCHABD  r:\lMlilMi  n  is. 
■>  v  1 1  a 

Seedling  plants  representative  of  nine  promising  varieties  of  dates 
are  being  grown  in  experimental  orchards.  A  total  of  7:!7  plants 
weresel  to  orchard  positions  during  1913.  This  makes  a  total  plant- 
ing of  1,687  seedling  dates  now  included  in  the  collection.  In  ad- 
dition. 1,000  seedlings  are  growing  in  nurserj  rows. 

The  first  flowering  of  seedling  plants  occurred  in  the  spring  of  1913. 
Of  159  trees  planted  in  1911,  26  produced  flowers.  The  greater  per- 
centage of  these  were  staminate  tree-.,  bul  it  is  frequently  found  thai 
the  >t animate  trees  hear  flowers  at  an  earlier  age  than  pistillate  trees. 

I)e>pite  a  minimum  temperature  of  16  F.  on  January  «'>.  1913,  it 
wag  found  that  66  per  cent  of  the  seedling  plants  had  received  less 
than  .">()  per  cent  nt  leaf  injury.  The  remaining  -il  per  cent  were 
alh  e,  hut  more  than  .">n  per  cent  of  their  foliage  was  damaged.  A  hunt 
1,100  2-year-old  seedling  plant-  and  220  pounds  of  seed  were  di>- 
tributed  free  of  charge  during  the  year  to  II  farmers  of  the  project. 

PIGS. 

The  Smyrna  Adriatic  fig  hybrids  discussed  in  the  report  of  this 
station  for  the  year  L912 '  hope  their  first  fruit  during  the  summer 
of  1913.  As  stated  in  the  report  mentioned,  the  object  of  this  ex- 
periment is  to  secure  a  -train  of  1 1 i_r—  which  will  produce  a  desirable 
fruit  of  the  quality  of  the  Smyrna  fig  without  the  necessity  of  the 
presence  of  the  small  wasp  {Blastophaga  psenes)  f<>r  pollinating  the 
young  fig,  which  the  Smyrna  variety  requires  and  which  it  isdifficull 
to  carry  through  the  winters  in  some  localities  where  the  fig  can  be 


i  The  work  of  the  1  nlture.  Bun 

Industry  Circular  136,  pp.  r 


12 

Of  the  1,600  seedlings,  54  bore  and  matured  fruits  of  good  quality. 
There  were  1,219  (ices  which  did  not  flower,  owing,  perhaps,  to  in- 
juries received  from  the  freeze  of  the  preceding  winter:  and  327 
others  set  small  figs,  but  the  fruit  was  not  matured  and  was  shed  for 
want  of  pollination.  Some  variation  in  frost  resistance  was  noted 
among  these  seedlings.  Observations  of  frost  injury  were  made  dur- 
ing the  two  winters  of  1912—13  and  1013-14.  The  results  are  given 
in  Table  V. 

T.\ blb  V-  Frost  injury  to  fig  ■-■  idlings  during  the  "inters  of  191  ?-lS  and  1913—14  at  th> 

Yuma  Ei  pi  rum  nt  Farm. 


Minimum 
temperature. 

Unin- 
jured. 

Injured,  growth  killed 
being — 

Season. 

°K. 

Date 
L913. 

Less  than 
half. 

More  than 
half,  but 
not  all. 

Winter  oi  1912-13 

Hi 
'.'1 

.Tan.      ti 

De< 

Percent. 

55.  i 
46.1 

Per  tint. 
2.7 

1.0 

Per  cent. 

11. <i 

Winter  of  1913-14 

52.9 

The  injury  received  by  these  trees  during  the  winter  of  1013-14  was 
unusual.  Water  was  withheld  from  the  plantings  early  in  the  fall, 
but  tender  growth  matured  very  slowly,  owing  to  the  excellent  grow- 
ing: weather  that  continued  until  verv  late  in  the  autumn. 


DECIDUOUS  FRUITS  AND  NUTS. 


Commercial  horticultural  possibilities  for  Yuma  Valley  no  doubt 
lie  in  specialized  fruits,  but  every  farmer  should  grow  in  his  garden 
a  few  other  fruits  for  home  use.  With  the  peculiar  local  conditions 
much  is  to  be  learned  relative  to  adaptable  varieties.  With  this  in 
view,  a  variety  test  of  deciduous  fruits  and  nuts  has  been  established. 
The  following  plantings  were  made  in  duplicate  in  1013:  31  varieties 
of  peaches,  16  of  plums,  6  of  prunes,  4  of  apricots,  1  of  nectarines.  1  of 
plumcots,  1  of  cherries.  10  of  pears,  6  of  apples,  3  of  quinces,  4  of 
almonds,  3  of  walnuts,  3  of  pecans,  10  of  pistaches,  2  of  jujubes,  and  12 
of  persimmons.  Several  varieties  of  grapes  and  berries  were  also 
planted  in  a  variety  test. 

In  cooperation  with  the  Office  of  Alkali  and  Drought  Resistant 
Plant  Investigations,  about  200  pomegranate  plants  have  been  grown 
in  orchard  form  since  1011.  The  pomegranate  is  well  adapted  to  the 
local  soil  and  climate,  will  bear  heavy  crops  of  fruit,  and  is  useful  in 
ornamental  plantings.  Its  commercial  possibilities  are  limited,  but 
a  few  desirable  fruiting  plants  will  ordinarily  be  appreciated  in  any 
garden.  The  best  of  the  named  varieties  fruiting  at  the  experiment 
farm  are  "Sweet  Fruited"  and  "Wonderful."  In  the  collection  of 
seedlings  which  are  now  beginning  to  bear  fruit  several  promising 
types  have  been  noted  which  are  worthy  of  further  testing. 


L3 

\  I  (.11   V I  El  I   9. 

While  garden  crops  can  be  grown  to  some  extenl  throughout  tin* 
\  •  • .- 1 1 - .  most  plantings  are  made  during  the  late  Hill  and  earl}  spring 
months.  Tu  o  methods  of  culture  are  practiced  in  grow  ing  vegetables, 
tlic  bed  and  i lif  iliit  s\ stems. 

The  cool-weather  class  of  vegetables,  such  as  cabbage,  kohl-rabi, 
cauliflower,  carrot,  parsnip,  turnip,  beet,  onion,  lettuce,  spinach, 
and  pea,  when  planted  in  the  fall  Bucceed  best  on  beds  or  ridges, 
being  irrigated  in  the  furrow  and  the  water  allowed  to  Boak  through 
Imii  not  in  fjood  over  the  bed.  The  same  vegetables  planted  in  Janu- 
ary, when  ilu'\  in;i\  be  germinated  withoul  irrigation,  grow  well  on 
the  Bat. 

The  class  of  Bummer  vegetables,  including  peppers,  eggplant,  toma 
toes,  sweet  potatoes,  corn,  beans,  cucumbers,  Bquashes,  pumpkins, 
okra,  and  roselle,  should  be  planted  as  Boon  a->  all  danger  of  frosl  i> 
over.  With  the  exception  of  corn,  they  Bucceed  hot  when  planted 
in  the  bed  or  by  the  r'ul<ro  method.  I>\  running  water  in  the  furrows 
before  planting  and  then  planting  seeds  or  plants  at  the  water  line, 
they  will  receive  sufficient  moisture,  leaving  dr\  land  for  the  plants 
and  maturing  fruit .    Corn  can  best  be  grown  when  planted  on  the  flat. 

The  ideal  garden  soil  is  a  rich.  warm.  Band)   loam,  retentivi 
moisture  hut  well  drained.     Sandy  soil  will  he  greatly  benefited  h\ 
libera]  applications  of  rotted  stable  manure.     Coarser  organic  mate- 
rial mixed  with  the  heavier  soils  w  ill  improve  t  heir  physical  condition 
and  prevent  excessive  baking  and  cracking,  which  are  detrimental  to 

Small  and  delicate  plants. 

Most   of    the  varieties    recommended    for  the    Yuma  project   1>\ 

reliable  seed    houses   have   been    planted    at    the   experiment    farm    in 

comparable  tests.  Some  valuable  information  as  to  desirable  varie- 
ties and  cultural  methods  has  been  secured  from  these  tests.  The 
following  brief  paragraphs  give  the  names  of  the  varieties  which  have 
produced  the  besl  results  and  make  suggestions  as  to  cultural  methods: 

Asparagus:  Conover's  Colossal  and  '•n:nf  Argenteuil.  Asparagus 
plants  are  readilj  grown  in  this  region.  They  thrive  hot  in  a  rich 
sandy  loam,  hut  can  lie  gTOWD  profitably  in  heavier  soil  or  in  Band) 
Boil  when  well  fertilized  with  stable  manure.  Slightly  alkaline  soil 
i>  favorable  to  asparagus.  Root  plantings  should  he  made  in  furrows 
in  the  earlj  spring,  the  furrow  being  Idled  gradually  as  cultivation 
progresses.  The  cutting  <<(  asparagus  from  established  plantings 
begins  in  this  climate  about  the  middle  of  February. 

Bean:  Burpee's  Stringless  Green  Pod  and  Tepary.  For  string  beans, 
Burpee's  Stringless  Green  Pod  and.  for  dry  beans,  Tepar)  are  prefera- 
ble. Most  varieties  of  beans  favorable  to  humid  sections  fail  to  yield 
desirable  beans  on  the  Yuma  project  owing  perhaps  to  the  extreme 


14 

temperature  changes  from  day  to  night.  Burpee's  Stringless  Green 
Pod  is  ]>iit  one  of  many  tested  thai  produces  good  tender  pods.  It  is 
an  excellent  variety  for  spring  planting.  The  Tepary,  or  native 
desert  bean  of  Arizona,  is  especially  adapted  to  local  culture  under 
irrigation.  It  may  be  planted  almost  any  time  from  April  to  August. 
The  later  crops  ordinarily  yield  heaviest. 

Beet:  Early  Model  and  Blood  Turnip. — Many  varieties  of  beets 
grow  well,  but  perhaps  these  are  most  reliable. 

Cabbage:  Jersey  Wakefield,  Winningstadt,  All  Seasons,  and  Danish 
Ball  Head. — Of  the  varieties  of  cabbage,  the  first  two  named  are  espe- 
cially good  for  early  planting.  All  Seasons  is  a  large,  late  variety. 
The  Danish  Ball  Head  produces  a  round,  solid  head  that  holds  up 
well. 

Cantaloupe:  Rocky  Ford  and  Emerald  (rem. — Of  the  varieties  of 
nniskmelons.  the  Rocky  Ford  is  most  popular.  It  yields  heavily  in 
these  soils  and  needs  no  introduction  in  any  market.  For  home  use 
the  Emerald  Gem  has  great  merit.  While  it  does  not  yield  so  heavily 
as  the  Rocky  Ford,  it  is  earlier  in  ripening. 

Carrot:  Oxheart. — Carrots  are  readily  grown  both  on  the  flat  and 
by  the  bed  system.  For  rapid  growth  and  good  roots  free  from 
woody  tissue  they  should  be  irrigated  frequently. 

Casaba:  Improved  Hybrid  and  BedwelVs. — The  casaba  melon  fruit 
is  not  widely  known,  but  it  has  excellent  quality  and  is  rapidly  com- 
ing into  favor. 

Cauliflower:  Burpee's  Best  Early  and  Dry  Weather. — Only  early 
varieties  of  cauliflower  do  well.  Seed  sown  in  September  should 
produce  plants  for  transplanting  by  October.  Cauliflower  requires 
very  rich  soil  and  a  great  deal  of  water  to  produce  good  heads. 

Com.— No  variety  of  sweet  corn  has  yet  been  tested  which  yielded 
satisfactorily.  The  flowers  of  the  plant  appear  to  be  ''blasted"  by 
the  extreme  heat.  Five  varieties  of  pop  corn  were  planted  during 
1913,  but  no  satisfactory  }Tields  were  obtained. 

Cucumber:  White  Spine. — Cucumbers  should  be  planted  in  early 
spring  on  ridges  24  inches  wide.  Summer  plantings  are  often  attacked 
by  the  melon  aphis. 

Eggplant:  Black  Beauty. — The  eggplant  is  very  easily  grown.  The 
plants  may  be  grown  in  a  hotbed  or  seeded  in  the  open.  With 
frequent  cultivations  and  sufficient  moisture  they  will  bear  well 
through  the  hot  summer. 

Kohl-Rabi:  Whiti  Vienna. — The  kohl-rabi  crop  is  cultivated  the 
same  as  cabbage. 

Lettuce:  Prize  Head  and  Wonderful. — All  varieties  of  lettuce  will 
grow  here,  but  the  Prize  Head  is  especially  recommended  for  a  loose 
head,  while  the  Wonderful  produces  an  excellent  solid  head.  For  the 
best  results,  a  rich  soil  and  frequent  irrigations  are  necessary. 


i:» 


Okra:    White  Velvet.    Okra  wed  Bhould  be  planted  in  warm, 
soil  and  the  plantsshould  be  thinned  to  24  inches  in  the  row. 

117,;/,  Bermuda,  Crystal  Wax,  and  Australian  Brov 
White  Bermuda  and  Cryata]  Wax  onions  have  proved  besl  for  earlj 
sort--.    The  Australian  Brown  is  later,  has  yielded  well,  and  kei  psthe 
besl  of  all  v  arieties  tried.     ( mions  produce  a  good  w  inter  crop.     1  bej 
iu:i\  be  grown  l>\  either  the  flat  or  bed  system. 

Parsnip:  Guernsey.     While  parsnips  can  be  grown,  the  quality  does 
I1()t  equal  those  produced  in  colder  climates.    The]  maj  be  grown  in 

beds  i>r  on  the  flat. 

/>,„■  American  Wonder  and  Yorkshire  E<  o.  Both  the  varieties 
„,-  peasnamed  may  be  planted  in  the  F.  rhe  American  Wonder 

olt(M1  produces  green  peas  in  December.     The  Yorkshire  Bero  is  a 
Ute  variety  producing  Large  pods  and  yielding  abundantly. 

Peanut:  Spaniel  and  Valencia.  If  planted  in  March,  peanuts  mW 
mature  in  five  or  >ix  months.    Thej  do  best  in  a  Bandj  loam  soil. 

Pepper:  Anaheim  and  Chinese  Oiant.  -The  Anaheim  is  largelj 
grown  for  the  market  as  a  dried  pepper.  Peppers  are  easily  grown, 
hut  they  require  frequent  irrigation  and  cultivation. 

Potato:  Irish  Collier,  Triumph,  and  Early  Ohio.  En  a  half-acre 
planting  oi  six  varieties  of  potato  during  the  Beason  of  1913,  the 
varieties  in  the  order  mentioned  above  proved  superior.  The  Irish 
Cobbler  yielded  Ear  in  excess  of  any  other  variety  and  should  be 
planted  more  extensive^  on  the  project.  The  planting  should  be 
done  between  January  15  and  February  I.  The  quality  and  earli- 
aess  of  the  Irish  Cobbler  commend  it  as  a  worthy  variety.  Only 
the  earliest  Varieties  can  be  successfully  produced. 

Puinphix:  Large  Cheese  and  Cushaw  {or  Crookneck).  -The  Large 
Cheese  for  feeding  stock  and  theCusha*  for  table  use  are  the  pump- 
kins best  adapted  for  this  Locality.  Seed  Bhould  be  planted  on 
borders  along  previously  irrigated  furrows. 

Radish:  Early  Scarlet  Turnip  and  Frcm-b  Hnahust.  Allot  the 
small,  quick-growing  sorts  of  radish  resembling  the  Scarlel  Turnip 
have  been  grown  successfully. 

Spinach:  Prickly  -  Seeded  and  Long  -  Standing.  These  varieties 
should  be  grown  during  cool  weather.  Spinach  requires  sufficient 
water  to  keep  it  growing  continuously. 

Squash:  Mammoth  Whit,  Hush  Scalloped.  The  variety  named  is 
a  good  summer  Bquash.  The  winter  squashes  do  not  do  well  here,  as 
they  frequently  sunburn  badly  and  do  not  keep  well.  Summer 
squash  may  be  planted  on  ridges  or  on  the  flat. 

Sujeet  Potato:     White    Vineless.    The   variety   named   has  pr 
superior  to  all  sueet   potatoes  tested.      They  prefer  sandy  loan,  and 
succeed  besl  when  grown  on  ridges  about  Z\  feet  apart,  hem-  un- 


gated in  furrows. 


16 


Tomato:  Dwarf  Champion,  Burpee's  Quarter  Century,  and  Dwarf 
(riant. — The  dwarf  types  of  tomatoes  have  generally  proved  best 
adapted. 

Turnip:  Purple  Top  Strap  Leaf  and  Early  White  Milan. — Turnips 
of  the  varieties  named  can  be  grown  during  the  winter  either  on 
borders  or  on  the  flat. 

Watermelon:  Chilean,  Klondike,  and  Kleckley  Sweets. — This  region 
is  preeminently  the  home  of  the  watermelon.  While  all  varieties 
do  well,  there  is  a  vast  difference  in  quality.  The  Kleckley  Sweets 
is  excellent  for  earliness  and  for  home  consumption.  The  Chilean 
and  Klondike  arc  worthy  and  popular  varieties  for  market  produc- 
tion. 


Fig.  5. — Row  of  roselle  plants  in  early  flower  at  the  Yuma  Experiment  Farm,  1913. 

Rosette. — The  roselle  plant  has  long  been  cultivated  in  India  for 
its  fiber,  but  has  been  only  recently  introduced  into  this  country.  It 
is  cultivated  here  for  its  edible,  red,  fleshy  calyxes,  which  are  used 
in  making  jellies  and  jams  of  rare  quality.  The  roselle  is  an  annual, 
propagated  from  seed  and  grown  under  cover.  It  is  planted  in  the 
garden  when  all  danger  of  frost  is  past,  raid  is  set  in  rows  6  to  10 
feet  apart,  with  the  plants  6  to  8  feet  apart  in  the  row,  depending 
on  the  quality  of  the  soil.  Early  and  late  plantings  seem  to  mature 
about  the  same  time,  usually  about  November  15,  but  the  early 
plantings  grow  a  larger  plant  and  produce  more  flowers.  A  row  of 
roselle  plants  is  shown  in  figure  5. 

ORNAMENTALS. 

The  mild  whiter  temperatures  of  the  Yuma  project  suggest  the 
possibility  of  a  great  list  of  temperate  and  semitropical  plants  from 
which  to  choose  in  making  ornamental  plantings.     Many  plants  that 


are  grown  in  parte  of  southern  California  will,  m>  doubt,  Buccoed, 
l)nt  numerous  others  will  likel)  l>c  found  unadapted  to  the  hoi 
summers  and  dry  air. 

Palms  have  long  Ik-cm  successfully  grown  in  1 1  ■  i  -  region      The  orna 
mental  date  palm    /'/...;,/  canai  and  the  weeping  fan  palm 

Washingtonia  filifera)  can  not   be  excelled  for  individual  <»•  streel 
plantings.     Other  sorts  have  also  been  planted. 

The  desirability  of  an  evergreen  tree  in  Buch  a  climate  Bhould  be 
borne  in  mind  in  selecting  varieties  of  U for  shade  or  streel  plant- 
ings. Quick  growth  is  also  desired  in  tree-  planted  in  a  new  country. 
Species  of  Eucalyptus  combine  both  these  qualities  and  supply  wood 
of  value,  especially  for  posts  and  fuel.  The  plantings  of  I -year-old 
Beedlings  of  desert  gum  {Eucalyptus  rudis)  did  not  endure  the  mini 
ilium  temperature  of  H>°  !•'.  during  the  winter  of  1912   !•'!  and  were 


killed  to  the  ground.     A  splendid  growth  came  on  through  the  nexl 

season  and   was  not    injured  during  the  past    winter  when   the  mini- 
mum temperature  was  24     V. 

The  most  comfortably  arranged  desert  house  with  screen-porch 
rooms  should  be  well  protected  from  the  Bun  by  climbing  vines. 
Many  annuals  will  furnish  temporary  shade,  hut  plantings  should  he 
made  of  perennial  evergreen  climbi  b  permanent  improvement. 

it  is  not  advisable  to  plant  a  vine  of  too  dense  growth,  which  will 
prevent  free  circulation  of  air,  particularly  cm  the  south  and  south- 

Wesl  sides  of  the  house.       Probably  no   plants  are  better  adapted  for 

such  plantings  than  climbing  everblooming  roses. 

Many  other  vines,  shrubs,  and  trees  deserve  a  place  in  ornamental 
plantings  when  adaptable  specie-  and  varieties  are  obtained.  The 
grounds  surrounding  the  buildings  on  the  experiment  farm  are  being 
planted  with  evergreen  and  deciduous  plants.     During  the  spring  of 


18 

1913,  75   perennial   plants   were  set   out,  representing   46   different 
species  and  varieties. 

Bamboo  plantings  made  in  1911  were  killed  to  the  ground  by  frost 
in  January,  1913,  but  during  the  following  season  they  made  a  luxuri- 
ant growth,  as  is  shown  in  figure  6. 

Approved : 

W.M.  A.  Taylor, 

( 'hief  of  Bureau. 

June  4,  1914. 


-WASHINGTON:    GOVERNMENT    TRINTING    OFFICE:    1914 


UNIVERSITY  OF  FLORIDA 


3  1262  09216  2592 


